Stoneware oil plate or aburazara. Plate used to catch the oil dripping from a lantern. Design in underglaze blue of a deer in a landscape. Thick, fine crackled white glaze in the style of Shino ware, Seto area. The outside of the plate with brown glaze. Six spur marks on the outer bottom, six spur marks on the inner bottom. Several glaze imperfections. Japan, Seto, early 19th century.

Kanban or shop sign for a store that sells or manufactures ornamental pin holders (ireko ningyo) for the oar pin (of a rowing boat or raft) to fall into. The pin holders are decorated as a male and a female face in court dress, their mouths wide open. The words ireko ningyo branded into the wooden board. On the back of the board paper label with a flying plover and the words ireko ningyo; also explanatory drawing of the proper use of the ireko ningyo. Japan, early 19th century.
W 19 in. x H 10.75 and 8 in.
Painting very worn, upper side missing, old repairs with iron nails.

Cylindrical incense box with a domed lid. Sides and top are decorated with a spray of chrysanthemums in gold and silver togidashi on a background of okibirame. Bottom and inside in dense nashiji. Unsigned. Japan, Edo period, 19th century.
Height 1 in. (2.5 cm); diameter 3 in. (7.5 cm).
Lacquer somewhat dry due to exposure, otherwise good condition. On the inside of cover traces of paper label and one paper label (now loose).

Ex collection Toledo Museum of Art. Inventory number in red lacquer on bottom and inside of lid: 48.110-A and –B.

Minamoto no Tsunemoto (894-961) was an imperial prince who received the family name Minamoto. Founder of the family that brought forth Minamoto, Ashikaga and Tokugawa shogun. He was a fine poet, as well.

Ono Gyokurei (1807-1870) was active in the bakumatsu era (end of Edo period). Not in Roberts.

Hanging scroll. View of a river at the foot of a steep mountain range. Trees on the riverbanks, boat with fisherman in the river. Signed, unidentified artist. Japan, Meiji/Taisho era, early 20th century.
Image 48 x 12 ¾ in.; total height 67 in.
Some backed worm holes on edges of painting, few stains, one horizontal tear in the middle which needs restoration.

Watanabe Shusen (1736-1824) – Nagasaki painter. Pupil of Ishizaki Gensho and Ishizaki Gentoku. Painted landscapes, birds-and-flowers, figures and tigers. (Roberts). A very similar painting by the same artist is known to exist.

Hanging scroll showing Emma O sitting in Hell surrounded by oni and skeletons making merry. Emma O sits slightly off center with a sake dish in the hand. In front of him two oni are dancing. Surrounding them are innumerable skeletons playing shamisen, dancing, playing go, drinking tea, smoking a pipe and/or drinking. Above the image a long inscription. Black ink and some color on wet paper. Several seals; artist unidentified. The sake jar on the left seems to be inscribed by a date into the Meiji era. Japan, Meiji/Taisho era.
Image H 53 ¼ x W 26 in.; total height 84 in.
Few horizontal creases, one small backed hole at bottom, otherwise fine condition.

A row of begging monks with bowls, hossu and ruyi scepters, emaciated into skeletons. At the end walks a cat skeleton. Black ink and some color on paper. Signed and sealed. Unidentified artist. Japan, early 20th century.
Image 50 ¾ x 19 in. Total length 75 ½ in.
Excellent condition.

Hanging scroll. Painting of the demon of Rashomon stealing back his severed arm from Watanabe no Tsuna. Dry-brush technique. Black ink, light colors and gofun on paper. Signed: Hoko (Yoshimitsu), seal Hoko. Japan, Meiji/Taisho era.
Newly mounted with original embroidered brocade.
Image: 24 x 12 ½ inches. Total length: 58 inches.
Some old water stains on brocade, some damage to embroidery, all in all very good condition.

Highly unusual sculpture of two natural ruyi mushrooms ‘growing’ from a piece of wood. At the foot of the mushrooms sits a small frog. The mushrooms mounted with wire and resin. Japan, Meiji era. Unsigned.
Ca. H 7 x W 14 x D 6 inches.
The stem of the smaller mushroom was broken and glued.

Censer in the shape of a pheasant, very elegantly abstracted. Cover is formed by the wings. Signed on bottom: ..yoshi/nobu saku. Bronze with a beautiful greenish brown patina. Japan, either Edo period or Taisho era, made for the Japanese market.
Length ca. 12 inches, height ca 4 ½ inches
Excellent condition

Hanging scroll. Painting of a salmon hanging to dry and two rats, one nibbling on the salmon. Signed Rosetsu utsutsu and artist’s seals Nagasawa and Gyo. Black ink and some light color on paper. Attributed to Nagasawa Rosetsu (1754 - 1799). Japan, late 18th century.
Image H 49 ½ x W 18 ¾ inches. Total H 71 ½ inches.
Light stain at top, many small damages and tiny worm holes professionally restored, short horizontal creases, some foxing, generally good to very good condition.

Hanging scroll. The eight-armed deity, bearing arms and jewels, and a coiled snake (the deity Ugajin) on her head, sits on a lotus-leaf-seat, flanked by Daikoku. Before her are the 15 disciples, or jugo doji. Ink, mineral colors, gold and gofun on silk. Japan, Edo period, 18th century.
Painted area: H 37 in. x W 15 in.
Mounting severely damaged. Painting with few horizontal crack in middle section and short one at the upper left, gofun rubbed, all in all very good original condition (no restorations).
Comes with wooden storage box (no inscription, not original)